Your comments on Redskins name change poll: Is public opinion relevant to 'moral problem?'

Oneida Nation representative Ray Halbritter, second from right, sits next to President Barack Obama at a meeting Tuesday of 12 tribal leaders in the White House Roosevelt Room. Halbritter thanked the president for speaking out about the Washington Redskins team nickname.Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Only 18 percent of respondents wanted a the team to change its name. 11 percent were unsure.

"This poll, along with the poll taken among Native Americans by the Annenberg Institute, demonstrates continued, widespread and deep opposition to the Redskins changing our name," the Washington Redskins said in a statement.

The Oneida nation views the name as a "moral problem," and said the poll results have no relevance in the debate.

Readers left their thoughts on the poll results in the comments on the story. Here's a sample of what they had to say:

From Sour Shoes: I keep wondering why people think that a popular vote determines right from wrong, but then I realize the people that think that way are the ones voting in these polls to begin with...

What does popular view have to do with morality? Is morality based on which side gets the most votes?

From SAFEactISaJOKE: I am in no way a REDSKINS fan, but I have become a huge fan of the REDSKINS owner Dan Snyder! His level of integrity is such that he will not succumb to the Indian and political whiners in this country, and will not bow down to them. Bravo Dan Snyder, I will always call them the REDSKINS!

From cnyreader: Rather than discussing the merits of whether the name "Redskins" is offensive, most posters seem to focus on their dislike of Ray Halbritter, the Oneida Nation, or perceived oppression at the hands of proponents of "political correctness."

Why wouldn't a reasonable person want to change a name that at least some people find offensive? Perhaps it's because the offensiveness of a name based on the color of one's skin seems so apparent to me that I can't fully understand the other side of this issue. However, I don't hear these posters supporting the use of the name. Instead, all I hear is anger directed at others.

From Jackie Schmidts: The poll is not irrelevant to the issue. If you don't like the Washington Redskins because of their team name, don't watch them or support them. And if the name is so bad, why aren't the hundreds of other native American tribe marching on the team owner's office? Why just Mr. Halbitter and his tribe? Where is the big vocal protest?

From good-guys: Really? Public Opinion does not matter? So just your opinion matters and few other small minded people like Ray Halbritter?

Instead of making a mountain out of a mole hill, and spending so much time and money on trying to change a name that is a long time tradition, do something that really helps your own people.